Castle Peak

Castle Peak

“Castle Peak” lies at the nexus of the hulking Castle Crags formation and the main crest of the Trinity Divide. It is this location, at the edge of mighty Crags, as well as the presence of Castle Lake beneath its summit that has given the mountain its unofficial name. Despite lacking an official name, the peak has not escaped the attention of people, both past and present. The flanks of the mountain was the setting of the Battle of the Castle Crags, which occurred in 1855. That is the last recorded conflict in which the Native Americans relied exclusively on bows and arrows for combat. Famed poet Joaquin Miller participated in the battle. Nearly a decade later, renowned western artist Albert Bierstadt climbed the flanks of “Castle Peak” above Castle Lake to paint a scene of Mount Shasta.

Category: Difficult

Distance: 8.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 6,617 ft.

Route Type: Out & Back

Directions: From the town of Mt. Shasta, head west on W. Lake, crossing over I-5. At the stop sign, turn left onto Old Stage Road. After 0.25 miles, veer right onto WA Barr Road. Continue south, crossing over the dam that impounds the Sacramento River and forms Lake Siskiyou. Just past the dam, make a left hand turn onto Castle Lake Road which climbs for 7 miles to the roads end at Castle Lake.

Highlights: Impressive views of crags, site of the Battle of the Castle Crags

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Castle Peak

“Castle Peak” lies at the nexus of the hulking Castle Crags formation and the main crest of the Trinity Divide. It is this location, at the edge of mighty Crags, as well as the presence of Castle Lake beneath its summit that has given the mountain its unofficial name. Despite lacking an official name, the peak has not escaped the attention of people, both past and present. The flanks of the mountain was the setting of the Battle of the Castle Crags, which occurred in 1855. That is the last recorded conflict in which the Native Americans relied exclusively on bows and arrows for combat. Famed poet Joaquin Miller participated in the battle. Nearly a decade later, renowned western artist Albert Bierstadt climbed the flanks of “Castle Peak” above Castle Lake to paint a scene of Mount Shasta.

Category: Difficult

Distance: 8.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 6,617 ft.

Route Type: Out & Back

Directions: From the town of Mt. Shasta, head west on W. Lake, crossing over I-5. At the stop sign, turn left onto Old Stage Road. After 0.25 miles, veer right onto WA Barr Road. Continue south, crossing over the dam that impounds the Sacramento River and forms Lake Siskiyou. Just past the dam, make a left hand turn onto Castle Lake Road which climbs for 7 miles to the roads end at Castle Lake.

Highlights: Impressive views of crags, site of the Battle of the Castle Crags